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Side-by-side financial comparison of Automatic Data Processing (ADP) and Cognizant (CTSH). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
Automatic Data Processing is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($5.4B vs $5.3B, roughly 1.0× Cognizant). Automatic Data Processing runs the higher net margin — 19.8% vs 12.2%, a 7.7% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Automatic Data Processing posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (6.2% vs -73.0%). Over the past eight quarters, Cognizant's revenue compounded faster (4.9% CAGR vs 1.0%).
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) is an American multinational provider of cloud-based human resources management, payroll processing, and professional employer organization (PEO) services, headquartered in Roseland, New Jersey.
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation is an American multinational information technology consulting and outsourcing company originally founded in India. It is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States. Cognizant is part of the NASDAQ-100 and trades under CTSH. It was founded in Chennai, India, as an in-house technology unit of Dun & Bradstreet in 1994, and started serving external clients in 1996.
ADP vs CTSH — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q2 FY2026 vs Q1 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $5.4B | $5.3B |
| Net Profit | $1.1B | $648.0M |
| Gross Margin | 46.1% | — |
| Operating Margin | 25.8% | 16.0% |
| Net Margin | 19.8% | 12.2% |
| Revenue YoY | 6.2% | -73.0% |
| Net Profit YoY | 10.3% | 18.7% |
| EPS (diluted) | $2.62 | $1.34 |
Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.
8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend
Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.
| Q1 26 | — | $5.3B | ||
| Q4 25 | $5.4B | $5.3B | ||
| Q3 25 | $5.2B | $5.4B | ||
| Q2 25 | $5.1B | $5.2B | ||
| Q1 25 | $5.6B | $5.1B | ||
| Q4 24 | $5.0B | $5.1B | ||
| Q3 24 | $4.8B | $5.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.8B | $4.8B |
| Q1 26 | — | $648.0M | ||
| Q4 25 | $1.1B | $648.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $1.0B | $274.0M | ||
| Q2 25 | $910.7M | $645.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.2B | $663.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $963.2M | $546.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $956.3M | $582.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $829.3M | $566.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | 46.1% | — | ||
| Q3 25 | 45.2% | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 45.1% | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 47.7% | — | ||
| Q4 24 | 45.7% | — | ||
| Q3 24 | 45.5% | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 44.8% | — |
| Q1 26 | — | 16.0% | ||
| Q4 25 | 25.8% | 16.0% | ||
| Q3 25 | 25.3% | 16.0% | ||
| Q2 25 | 23.2% | 15.6% | ||
| Q1 25 | 29.2% | 16.7% | ||
| Q4 24 | 25.0% | 14.8% | ||
| Q3 24 | 25.6% | 14.6% | ||
| Q2 24 | 22.8% | 14.6% |
| Q1 26 | — | 12.2% | ||
| Q4 25 | 19.8% | 12.2% | ||
| Q3 25 | 19.6% | 5.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | 17.8% | 12.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | 22.5% | 13.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 19.1% | 10.7% | ||
| Q3 24 | 19.8% | 11.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | 17.4% | 11.7% |
| Q1 26 | — | $1.34 | ||
| Q4 25 | $2.62 | $1.35 | ||
| Q3 25 | $2.49 | $0.56 | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.23 | $1.31 | ||
| Q1 25 | $3.06 | $1.34 | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.35 | $1.10 | ||
| Q3 24 | $2.34 | $1.17 | ||
| Q2 24 | $2.01 | $1.14 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $2.5B | $1.9B |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | $576.0M |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $6.4B | $15.0B |
| Total Assets | $84.6B | $20.7B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | 0.04× |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | $1.9B | ||
| Q4 25 | $2.5B | $1.9B | ||
| Q3 25 | $7.9B | $2.4B | ||
| Q2 25 | $7.8B | $1.8B | ||
| Q1 25 | $2.7B | $2.0B | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.2B | $2.2B | ||
| Q3 24 | $7.3B | $2.0B | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.3B | $2.2B |
| Q1 26 | — | $576.0M | ||
| Q4 25 | — | — | ||
| Q3 25 | — | — | ||
| Q2 25 | — | — | ||
| Q1 25 | — | — | ||
| Q4 24 | — | — | ||
| Q3 24 | — | — | ||
| Q2 24 | — | — |
| Q1 26 | — | $15.0B | ||
| Q4 25 | $6.4B | $15.0B | ||
| Q3 25 | $6.4B | $14.9B | ||
| Q2 25 | $6.2B | $15.3B | ||
| Q1 25 | $5.9B | $14.9B | ||
| Q4 24 | $5.1B | $14.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $5.3B | $14.5B | ||
| Q2 24 | $4.5B | $13.9B |
| Q1 26 | — | $20.7B | ||
| Q4 25 | $84.6B | $20.7B | ||
| Q3 25 | $54.3B | $20.1B | ||
| Q2 25 | $53.4B | $20.2B | ||
| Q1 25 | $56.4B | $20.0B | ||
| Q4 24 | $64.1B | $20.0B | ||
| Q3 24 | $49.5B | $20.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | $54.4B | $18.6B |
| Q1 26 | — | 0.04× | ||
| Q4 25 | — | — | ||
| Q3 25 | — | — | ||
| Q2 25 | — | — | ||
| Q1 25 | — | — | ||
| Q4 24 | — | — | ||
| Q3 24 | — | — | ||
| Q2 24 | — | — |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $1.1B | $858.0M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | — | $781.0M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | — | 14.6% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | — | — |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 1.07× | 1.32× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | — | $3.1B |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q1 26 | — | $858.0M | ||
| Q4 25 | $1.1B | $858.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | $642.3M | $1.2B | ||
| Q2 25 | $1.4B | $398.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | $1.5B | $400.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | $1.2B | $920.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | $824.4M | $847.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | $1.3B | $262.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | $781.0M | ||
| Q4 25 | — | $781.0M | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $1.2B | ||
| Q2 25 | — | $331.0M | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $323.0M | ||
| Q4 24 | — | $837.0M | ||
| Q3 24 | — | $791.0M | ||
| Q2 24 | — | $183.0M |
| Q1 26 | — | 14.6% | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 14.6% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 21.4% | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 6.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 6.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 16.5% | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 15.7% | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 3.8% |
| Q1 26 | — | — | ||
| Q4 25 | — | 1.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | — | 1.2% | ||
| Q2 25 | — | 1.3% | ||
| Q1 25 | — | 1.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | — | 1.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | — | 1.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | — | 1.6% |
| Q1 26 | — | 1.32× | ||
| Q4 25 | 1.07× | 1.32× | ||
| Q3 25 | 0.63× | 4.48× | ||
| Q2 25 | 1.58× | 0.62× | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.22× | 0.60× | ||
| Q4 24 | 1.19× | 1.68× | ||
| Q3 24 | 0.86× | 1.46× | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.57× | 0.46× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
ADP
| HCM | $2.2B | 42% |
| PEO Zero Margin Benefits Pass Throughs | $1.1B | 21% |
| HRO | $979.3M | 18% |
| Global | $709.3M | 13% |
| Interest On Funds Held For Clients | $308.6M | 6% |
CTSH
| Health Sciences | $1.6B | 30% |
| Financial Services | $1.6B | 30% |
| Products and Resources | $1.3B | 25% |
| Communications, Media and Technology | $808.0M | 15% |
